Ralph / Chris

Sent: 15 December 2000 2:49 PM
Subject: Re: NYAC cleaning and LIHS tight brick joints

<< 1.  Gee, Ralph, the cleaning on the limestone base of the NY Athletic
Club
[a high rise clubhouse in New York on Central Park South] - it seems kind of
...
 harsh.  Is it?
>>>>>>>>>>>Uh. Er. Mmmm. Well, let me say this about that: We had the best
advice money could buy ... We did the best we all could, and the cleaned
building is beyond a doubt better off than it was, given the potential for
physical deterioration of the stone if the encrusted soil (which had
developed physical thickness)  had stayed on longer.  As you observed,
better
results were obtained in some areas than in others; I would've liked to have
gotten the last of the soil off, but we got to the point where some of this
was so encrusted that it wouldn't come off without abrasion, which we wanted
to avoid for fear of further damage.  Most of the variations in cleanliness
results from due to inconsistencies in the accumulations of schmutz
(primarily airborne soil, but also verdigris from bronze light fixtures,
grease from kitchen exhausts, combinations of this crud, differing
thicknesses, etc) from one area to the next;  but there are also variations
in the porosity and occlusions within the stone which affect how effective
the cleaning is going to be.  The result is that an effective technique on
one stain in one area (or a range of techniques on a range of stains) may be
less effective-- or overly aggressive-- in another area.

As a self-confessed technogeek, I hereby support Ralph's (painfully
torturous) explanation about the cleaning of the limestone.  Had a similar
sort of problem but nowhere near as bad.  Of course, the question some
people might ask is ... "did they trial Facade Gommage?"

>>>>>>>>>Anybody heard yet from david about our mass application for
political asylum?
Are preservationists as welcome in Australia as Filipino nurses and Indian
doctors are here?<<<<<<<<

Current flavour of the month / year is IT.  If you can speak computers, then
you're welcome.  Given the plethora of heritage architects we have out here
... suspect it could be difficult.  Tradespeople however should be welcomed
with open arms.  Except maybe stonemasons (although maybe even they could
get in before heritage architects).

Of course, with the current exchange rate of the Australian peso, yo'all
might qualify under the business migrant program with money to invest.

Cheers

david